Gemara Clarity

Kesubos 75b

כתובות ע״ה ע״ב

Ketubot 75b

Learn Kesubos 75b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Kesubos 75b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Blemishes found after betrothal: who must bring proof, and how presumptions are weighed

Overview

This amud finishes the משנה about a husband who finds blemishes on his wife and claims the betrothal was a מקח טעות. He cannot claim this for visible blemishes, or for hidden ones if the town has a bathhouse. The גמרא notices that the רישא sounds like רבי יהושע while the סיפא sounds like רבן גמליאל, and רבי אלעזר answers that the משנה is split between two תנאים. רבא then shows that רבי יהושע sets aside חזקה דגופא only when a חזקה דממונא opposes it, and proves this from a ברייתא about צרעת. רבא also gives his own answer: blemishes are assumed to have started where they were found, so both halves of the משנה follow one rule. אביי challenges this from the משנה's words 'before she was betrothed.' After one defense is rejected, the גמרא explains that after betrothal two presumptions work against the husband. The weighing against his own presumption finishes on the next amud.

Opening lines

אֲבָל בְּמוּמִין שֶׁבַּגָּלוּי

But with regard to visible blemishes

אֵינוֹ יָכוֹל לִטְעוֹן.

he cannot make a claim.

וְאִם יֵשׁ מֶרְחָץ בְּאוֹתָהּ הָעִיר —

And if there is a bathhouse in that city,

אַף מוּמִין שֶׁבַּסֵּתֶר

even about hidden blemishes

The steps (17)

  1. StatementVisible blemishes, and hidden ones in a town with a bathhouse, cannot be claimed
  2. StatementInference from the first clause: without proof, the husband is believed
  3. QuestionWhose view is this?
  4. ResponseIt follows רבי יהושע: we don't rely on her word
  5. ChallengeBut the second clause sounds like רבן גמליאל
  6. Resolutionרבי אלעזר: the משנה is split between two תנאים
  7. Statementרבא: רבי יהושע ignores the body's presumption only against a money presumption
  8. StatementWhere no money is at stake, רבי יהושע follows the body's presumption
  9. ProofProof from a ברייתא about a white spot and white hair
  10. QuestionWhat does 'dull' mean?
  11. Responseרבה explains: 'dull' means pure
  12. Resolutionרבא's new answer: blemishes started where they were found
  13. Challengeאביי challenges רבא from the words 'before she was betrothed'
  14. Resolutionרבא answers: a man checks before he marries
  15. ChallengeIf he checks before betrothal, the 'before betrothal' case should fail too
  16. ResolutionAfter betrothal, two presumptions work against the husband
  17. ResolutionAnswering the husband's 'no one accepts blemishes' claim